Slow release lock for railway switches



g- 1944- K. J. J. MCGOWAN 2,355,989

SLOW RELEASE LOCK FOR RAILWAY SWITCHES Filed Oct. 30, 1942 6Sheets-Sheet l 'INVENT'OR fima 1%?6610012 2511419525 A? ATTORNEY Au 15,1944. K. J. J. M GOWAN SLOW RELEASE LOCK FOR RAILWAY- SWITCHES 6Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 30, 1942 k INVENTOR 01212966 JJ MCGOWQIZ Y Q-zfiwhzg n O I k T/QQ a 0 a & F 0 Q o o m \n wmm Mm mm} a w N ATTORNEYAug. 1 1944- K. J. J.. MCGOWAN 2,355,989

SLOW RELEASE LOCK FORRAILWAY SWITCHES Filed Oct. 30, 1942 r 6Sheets-Sheet 3 'mumm :53 ATTGRNE' 1 8 1944. K. J. .1. 'M GOWAN I SLOWRELEASE LOCK FOR RAILWAY SWITCHES 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 an? W R .w\ m m FiledOct. 50, 1942 Q SQ w ATTORNEY Aug. 15, 1944. K. J. J. M GOWAN SLOWRELEASE LOCK FOR RAILWAY SWITCHES Filed Oct. 30, 1942 6 Sheets-$heet 6RQ wQ Z 1 0% Ms M /m HIS ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 15, 1944 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE SLOW RELEASE LOCK FOR. RAILWAY SWITCH-ES Kenneth J. J.McGowan, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to The Union Switch & Signal Company,Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 30,1942, Serial No. 463,867 12 Claims. 01146-161 My invention relates to.slow release locks for railway switches, and particularly to slowrelease locks for hand thrown switches. 7 One object of my invention isto provide novel and, improved means for compelling the signalsgoverning traffic over a hand thrown switch to be placed at stop, apredetermined time interval before the switch throwing mechanism can be.operated to unlock the switch to prevent a switch- .man from reversingtheswitch in the face of a train which has passed a clear signal.

Another object of my invention is the provision of novel time releasemechanism for direct application to hand operated switch throwingmechanisms.

.A further object of my invention is to provide a hand operated switchthrowing mechanism with means which make it necessary to operate theusual circuit controller of the mechanism a predetermined time intervalbefore the locking .plunger of the mechanism can be withdrawn to unlockthe switch.

A further object of my invention is to apply to a hand operated switchthrowing mechanism an auxiliary hand lever for operating the circuitcontroller of the mechanism independently of the usual hand throw lever,together with time release mechanism which is set into operation uponoperation of the circuit controller by the auxiliary lever, and which iseffective, to delay the operation of the usual hand throw lever for apredetermined time interval.

According to certain forms of my invention, the switch throwingmechanism is provided, in addition to the usual lock bar whichcooperates with the switch lock rod to lock the switch, with a secandbar which is operatively connected to an auxiliary lever, and which iseffective when operated .to operate the circuit controller of themechanism. This second bar when operated also sets into operation amechanical time release which after a predetermined time interval movesa third 'bar from a locking position in which it prevents operation ofthe usual hand throw lever to an switch under conditions which mightcause a derailment. V

In another form of my invention, the circuit controller contacts areactuated by an auxiliary lever through the medium of a bar independentof the lock bar in the same manner as just described, but the hand throwlever instead of being locked by a third bar actuated by a mechanicaltime release connected directly with the mechanism is locked by anelectric lock controlled by an electric time release set into operationby the actuation of the circuit controller contacts.

Other objects and characteristic features of my invention will becomeapparent as the description. proceeds.

I shall describe three forms of switch locks embodying my invention, andshall then point out the. novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a to plan view showing a railwayswitch controlled by a switch throwing mechanism provided with a slowrelease lock embodying my invention. Fig.

2 is an enlarged top plan view of the switch throwing mechanism and lockshown in Fig. 1 with the covers of the switch throwing mechanism andlock both removed to better illustrate the construction of the variousparts. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the switchthrowing and locking mechanism shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a top planview of the motion plate 12 forming part of the mechanism shown in Figs.1 and 2. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line V-V of Fig. 2.Figs. 6 and '7 are views similar to Figs. 2 and 3 showing the switchthrowing mechanism provided with a modified form of slow release lookalso embodying my invention. Figs. 8 and 9 are sectional views taken onthe lines VIIIVIII and IX-IX respectively of Fig.

6. Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are diagrammatic views showing variousapplications of switch locks embodying my invention to crossovers. Fig.13 is a side view of the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2 modified forsome special applications. Figs. 14 and 15 are views similar to Figs. 2and 3 showing the switch throwing mechanism provided with an electriclock controlled by an electrical time release to provide the sameprotection electrically that is provided by mechanism means in thepreceding views. Fig. 16 is a detail sectional view taken on' thelineXV-IXVI of Fig. 2.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of theseveral views.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the reference character A designates arailway switch comprising, as

usual, two fixed rails l and la and two movable (Fig. 2)

rails or switch points 2 and 2a. The fixed rails I and la are laid ontie plates 3, and are secured to crossties 4 in the customary manner.The movable rails 2 and 2a are fastened together by a front rod 5 and ahead rod. 6, and may be moved into a normal or a reverse position bymeans of a throw rod 'l which is connected with the head rod 6 throughthe medium of a switch basket 8. When the switch occupies its normalposition, in which position it is'shown in the drawings, the movablerail 2 engages the fixed rail l,

and the movable rail 2a is spaced from the fixed rail la. When theswitch is reversed, however, the movable rail 2a then engages the fixedrail la, and the movable rail 2 is spaced from the fixed rail I.

Secured to an elongated pair of the ties 4 adjacent the outer side ofthe rail I is a switch throwing mechanism B provided with slow releaselock mechanism embodying my present invention. As best seen in Figs. 2and 3, the mechanism B in the form here shown comprises a suitablecasing 59 which encloses the operating parts of the mechanism, and whichis closed at its upper end by a removable cover H. Located within thecasing It is a motion plate l2 (see Fig. 4) which is guided to slidelongitudinally in a direction parallel to the track by means of guiderollers I3 and i4 secured to the underside of the motion plate adjacentits opposite ends and cooperating with guideways (not shown) provided inthe bottom wall of the casing. The motion plate 12 has rack teeth Itformed on the upper surface on one side of the center line, the spacesbetween the teeth being disposed below the adjacent upper surface of theplate, and being curved inwardly at their ends for a purpose whichwillbe made clear presently. The rack teeth l6 mesh with a segment gear l"!mounted on a square'shaft l8 disposed at its ends in bearing sleeves l9and 20 journaled in suitable bosses 2| and 22 formed in the side wallsof the casing l0. The bearing sleeve 253 is provided at its outer endwith a flange 29a and is secured to the shaft by a through bolt 23. Theshaft l3 projects through the bearing sleeve [9, and is provided on theouter side of the casing 56 with a hand throw lever 24 which serves 'asa means for reciprocating the motion plate [2 between 'two extremepositions. The segment gear H is slidably mounted on the shaft l8 withenough clearance so that it can be readily slipped off of the shaft, andhas'its teeth curved at their ends in a manner similar to the ends ofthe spaces between the rack teeth, whereby the segment gear ismaintained in the proper longitudinal position on the shaft to mesh withthe rack teeth by the cam action which results'between the curved endsof the teeth on the gear and the curved ends of the spaces between therack teeth, thus eliminating the necessity for any means for securingthe segment gear to the shaft. One advantage of this construction isthat the shaft can be turned end for end to permit the mechanism to bemounted on the opposite side of the switch from that shown withoutunfastening any parts from the shaft but the bearing sleeve20.

A roller 25 is secured to the underside of the motion plate [2 adjacentone side thereof at a point equallyspaced from the rollers l3 and I4,

- and this latter roller cooperates with cam faces 26 and 21 formed onan escapement crank. 28 The escapement crank 28 is formed integrallywith the upper end of a switch actuating shaft 29 journaled at spacedpoints in bearings 3G and 3| formed respectively in the bottom wall ofthe casing I0, and in a depending stirrup 32 which is provided on theunderside of the casing. A removable switch operating arm 33 is securedto a square portion formed on the shaft 29 between the two bearings 30and 3|, and this arm. is pivotally attached to the free end of the throwrod 1. Y

The portion of the switch throwing mechanism B thus far described takenby itself forms no part of my present invention and is similar in allrespects to that shown and described in Letters Patent of the UnitedStates No. 2,184,870, granted to Herbert L. Bone and myself on December26, 1939 for Railway switch operating mechanisms.

A lock bar 35 extends longitudinally of the casing ID directly above themotion plate I2, and is slidably mounted adjacent one end in a guideplate 36 bolted to an auxiliary casing 31, which latter, in turn, issecured through the medium of an adapter plate 38 to one end of thecasing Ill. The other end of the lock bar is slidably mounted in aguideway (not shown) formed in a frame 39 which is secured within thecasing l0, and which serves as a support for a suitable circuitcontroller, as will appear presently. The lock bar is operativelyconnected with the motion plate by means of the square head 40 of adepending stud 4| fixed to the lock bar, and disposed within atransversely extending slot 42 formed in the upper side of the motionplate.

The left-hand end of the lock bar 35 cooperate with a notch 43 providedin a lock rod L which is secured to the front rod 5. The parts are soproportioned that the notch 43 will align with the lock bar when andonly when the switch occupies its full normal position, and that whenthe notch 43 is in alignment with the lock bar and the motion plate isin its left-hand extreme position, the lock bar will have entered thenotch 43, as shown in Fig. 3, and will thus have locked the switch inits normal position.

The operation, as a whole, of the portion of the apparatus thus fardescribed is as follows: When the hand throw lever 24 is rotated to itsnormal extreme position in which it is shown in the drawings, the motionplate 12 is moved to its extreme left-hand or normal position in which'it is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and under these con- -wise direction aviewed in Fig. 2' through an angle of substantially 180 degrees'from theextreme position shown to its opposite-or reverse extreme position. Thisrotation of 'the'hand throw lever acts through the segment gear I I andrack teeth Hi to move the motion plate to its right-hand extremeposition, and as the motion plate moves to this latter position, thefirst part of the movement withdraws the lock bar 35 from the notch 43in the lock rod L to unlock theswitch, the intermediate part of themovement causes the roller 25'to engage the cam surface 21 of theescapement crank-'28 and rotate the. escapement crank to the position inwhich I the straightv portion of thecam surface 21 extends. parallel tothe track, thereby rotating the switch actuating shaft to its reverseextreme position, and hence moving the switch points to their reverseextreme positions, while the final part of the movement of the motionplate causes the roller 25 to move along the straight portion of the camsurface 21 to such a position that any tendency of the switch actuatingshaft to rotate in a direction to permit the switch points to move awayfrom their reverse positions is effectively blocked by the roller. Itwill be seen, therefore, that when the switch points occupy theirreverse extreme positions they are effectively 'held in these positionsdue to the coaction between the roller and the escapement crank, and itwill also be seen that any force which may be exerted on the switchtending to restore it to its normal position will cause a transverseforce to be exerted on themotion plate rather than a longitudinal force,thus avoiding any tendency to reverse the hand throw lever due to anyforce which may be exerted on the switch.

When the switch has been moved to its reverse position, and it isdesired to restore it to its normal position, the hand throw lever 24 isreturned to the position shown. The operation of the parts under theseconditions is exactly the reverse of that just described, and'thisoperation will be apparent from the foregoing description and from aninspection of the drawings without further detail description.

Reciprocably mounted in the housings I and 31 directly above the lockbar 35 is a second bar 45 which actuates a circuit controllerC throughthe medium of a cam dog 46 secured to the lefthand end of the bar. Thecircuit controller taken by itself forms no part of my present inventionand may have any suitable construction. As here illustrated, thiscircuit controller is similar to the circuit controller described andclaimed in Letters Patent of the United States No; 2,053,891,

granted to Charles R. Beall on September 8, 1936, for Railway switchcircuit controllers, and it is believed therefore to be sufficient forpurposes of my present invention to point out that this circuitcontroller comprises a rocker 41 and a contact operating member 48 bothpivoted for rocking movement about a pin 49 mounted in the hereinbefore'referred to frame 39. The rocker 47 corresponds to the rocker I! in thesaid Beall patent, and carries two rollers 50 and which cooperatewiththe cam dog 46 to rotate the rocker to a normal extreme position inwhich it is shown in the drawings, or to a reverse extreme positionaccording as the bar 45 is moved to the left-hand extreme position shownin Fig. 3 or a right-hand extreme position.

The contact operating member 48 corresponds to the contact operatinmember 13 in the said Beall patent and carries an insulating block 52 towhich two U-shaped switch elements 53 are attached (see Fig. 5). Theseswitch elements serve as switch blades and cooperate with slotted switchjaws 54. The parts are so arranged that when the contact operatingmember occupies the position shown, which position may be termed itsopen position the switch blades are out of engagement with the switchjaws, and under these condition the contacts are open. When, however,the contact operating member is rotated in a counterclockwise directionas viewed in Fig. 3 about the pin 49 from the open position shown towhat may be termed its closed position, the switch blades then engagethe associated switch jaws and thecontacts of the circuit controller areclosed.

I The contact operating member 48 is operatively connected with therocker 4'! by spring mechanismincluding springs 55 and 56. This springmechanism constantly biases the operating member to its closed positionin all positions of the rocker, but when the rocker occupies its normalposition the contact operating member is normally restrained from movingto its closed position by a latching member 51 corresponding to thelatchin member 40 in the said Beall patent. The latching member 51 ispivotally supported on a rod 58 mounted in the rocker 41 and is biasedby a spring 59 to its latching position. The lower end of the latchingmember is formed with a latching foot 51a which carries a roller 60. Theroller 60 cooperates with a notchBl formed in a point detector rocl D.The point detector rod D is slidably mounted in suitable guides formedin the sides of the casing In and its latching position if it does notalready oc-i cupy its latching position, and that, when the.

latching member has once been moved to its latching position if thenotch 6| in the point detector rod D is then in alignment with theroller 60, movement of the rocker 4'! between its two extreme positionswill cause the contact operating member to move between its open andclosed positions in substantially the same manner as if the contactoperating member and rocker were rigidly secured together for movementas a unit. The parts are further so pro-- portioned that the notch 6|will align with the roller 60 when and only when the switch pointsoccupytheir full normal positions and the switch point 2 is in closeengagement with the fixed rail l, and that when the rocker occupies itsnormal position and the latching member occupies its latching position,the roller 60 will fully enter the notch 6|. The parts are still furtherso proportioned that if the roller 60 is forced out of the notch 6| whenthe rocker occupies its normal position and the contact operating member48 is latched in its open position, the latch member will be moved toits unlatching position, and will thus permit the contact operatingmember to move to its closed position due to its bias.

It will be seen therefore that with the circuit controller constructedin the manner described its contacts Will normally be open or closedaccording as the bar 45 is moved to the left-hand extreme position shownor its opposite extreme position, and that if the switch points aredisplaced, when the contacts are opened, due for example to a trainimproperly trailing the switch, the contacts will automatically move totheir closed positions and will subsequently remain in their closedpositions until they are manually restored to their open positions. Thismay be done by manually operating the contact operating member to itsopen position or by moving the bar 45 to the extreme position oppositeto that-shown and then restoring it to the posi- 'tion shown providedthe switch points are not damaged to the extent that the notch BI isheld out of alignment with the roller 60. If the switchpoints aredamaged it is necessary to repair them before the circuitcontrollercontacts can be released-to their open position.

As is well understood, circuit controllers of the type described aremost frequently employed intrain control territory on electrified roadsat locations where ,a track circuit extends for a considerable distancein both directions from the switch, and their primary function is toshort circuit the track circuit whenever the switch is moved away. fromits normal position by the switch throwing and locking mechanism, or bya train trailing the switch; The short circuiting of the track circuitprovides train control protection by causing the cab signals to indicatestop, and also functions through the dropping of the usual track relayto cause the wayside signals to display stop indications.

It should be particularly pointed out, however, that other types ,ofcircuit controllers such for example as that shown and described inLetters Patent of the United States No. 2,184,870

referred to hereinbefore may be employed in Y place of that shown whenthe switch is located in non-electrified territory. In this event, thecircuit controller may be arrangedto directly control wayside signalsgoverning traffic over the switch in such manner that the signals willbecaused to display stop indications when the circuit controller isoperated by movement of the bar 45 away from its normal position; Thecontrol of the signals by circuit controllers of either type is wellunderstood, and need not, therefore, be described in any further detailherein. r

- The bar 45 isprovided at the end opposite to the cam dog 46 with rackteeth 65 which at times mesh with the teeth on a segment gear 66.

The gear 66 is mounted within the auxiliary housing 31 on a square shaft81 journaled at its ends in suitable bearings provided in the side wallsof the housing, and is arranged to be reciprocated between two extremepositions by means of an auxiliary lever 68 secured to-one end. of theshaft 61. The parts are so proportioned that the teeth on the segmentgear will be out of engagement with the teeth on the bar 45 at each endof the stroke of the lever 68, but that during the intermediate part ofthe stroke of the lever, the teeth on the segment gear will mesh withthe teeth on the bar 45 through a sufficient angular distance to enablethe bar to be reciprocated between its two extreme positions. v

As was pointed out hereinbefore, my present less the circuit controllerC is first operated to place the signals governing traiiic over theswitch to stop and a time interval has thereafter been allowed toelapse, said time interval being of sufficient duration to insure thatthe train,

will either have stopped short of the signal, or if it has alreadypassed the signal when the circuit controller is operated it will havetime to pass the switch before the switch can be unlocked.

As here shown, these means include a third "bar 10 slidably mounted ontop of the bar 45.

The bar 19 is arranged to be positively moved to a left-hand extremeposition in which it is shown and to be yieldably novedto arightehandextreme position in response to movement of the bar 45 to its right-handextreme position through the medium of a coil spring 13 which isdisposed between the bracket II and a similar bracket 14 secured to thebar 45. When the bar 10 occupies its left-hand extreme position, itunderlies an arcuate lug l'la provided on the segment gear l1 and thusprevents rotation of the segment gear by the hand lever 24, but when thebar 'lll is moved to its right-hand extreme position, it is then out ofthe path of movement of the lug Ila, and the segment gear is free torotate.

The movement of the bar 10 to the right is limited to a relatively slowrate by time release mechanism comprising a pinion gear 15 fixed to ashaft 16 and meshing with rack teeth 10a provided on the upper face ofthe bar 10. The shaft 16 is journaled at its ends in suitable bearingsformed in the side walls of the housing 31, and has secured thereto aratchet pinion 11 which is connected through a ratchet pawl 18 .with agear 19 journaled on the shaft 16 between the pinion gear 15 and theratchet pinion H. The gear 19 meshes with a pinion 80 forming part of acluster gear. The cluster gear is journaled on a jackshaft 8| secured atits ends in bosses 82 formed in the sidewalls of the housing 31, andcomprises in addition to the pinion 80 an escapement gear 83 whichcooperates with an escapement pawl 84 attached to one side of an inertiamember 85 pivoted on the shaft 15.

The ratchet pawl 18 and ratchet gear 11 are so arranged that rotation ofthe pinions l5 and 71 in response to movement of the bar 78 toward theright will act through the ratchet pawl and ratchet gear to impartrotation to the gear train comprising the gear 19, pinion 80 and gear83, but that rotation of the pinions l5 and 11 in response to movementof the bar 10 toward the left will permit this gear train to remainstationary. The escapement pawl 84 co-operates with the gear wheel 83 insuch manner that rotation of this gear will impart an oscillatory motionto the inertia member 85, and it follows therefore that the escapementpawl and inertia 7 member comprise a well known form of escapementmechanism whereby rotation of the gear train is limited to a relativelyslow rate. Since the gear train is limited to movement at a relativelyslow rate it will be obvious that when the bar 45 is moved to the rightthe spring 73 will become compressed and will tend to move the bar 10 tothe right, but that, the bar 10 will be prevented from moving to theposition in -which the hand throw lever 24 can be operated until a timeinterval has elapsed. By proper ,proportioning of the parts this timeinterval can be varied as conditions require,

The operation of the apparatus as a whole is as follows: When it isdesired to reverse the switch, the operator will first rotate theauxiliary lever 68 from the position shown to its opposite extremeposition. This will move the bar 45 to the right, thereby actuating thecircuit controller C and thus causing the signals governing trafiic overthe switch to move to their stop positions. The movement of the bar 10to the right will also compress the spring 13 to set the time releasemechanism into operation, and after a predetermined time intervaldetermined by the prolportioning of the parts of the time releasemechanism the bar 10 will be moved by the spring 13 to its right-handposition in which it is out of the path of movement of the scribed, andit is desired, to restore 'it to its nor mal position, the operator willfirst restore the lever 24 to its normal position and,will then restorethe auxiliary lever to its normalposition. The movement of the lever 24to its normal position will move the switch points toj-their normalpositions and lock them in these positions while the movement of thelever'58to its normal :position will restore the bars 45 and to theirnormal positions. During the movement of the bars 45 and 10 to theirnormal positions,the'time release mechanism will remain inoperative forthe reasons described hereinbefore.

Referring now to the modified form "of mechanism illustrated in Figs. 6,'7, 8 and 9, as here shown the circuit controller operating bar 45 isarranged to be moved between its twoextreme positions in response tomovement of the'auxiliary lever 68 between its two extreme positionsthrough the'medium of cam and roller mechanism comprising a cam 89secured to the'sha'ft 61 and two spaced rollers 90 and -9I- mounted inupstanding arms 92a provided on a bracket 92 secured to the upper sideof the bar 45. The parts are so proportioned that only a part of thestroke of the lever 68v (approximately 80) is required to produce thedesired movement of the bar 45, and that'the idle travel of the leverwill be equally divided between the two ends of its stroke.

A bar 93, which corresponds to 'the'bar I0 in Figs. 2 and 3, is mountedfor longitudinal sliding movement on top of the bar 45, and this barcooperates with an arcuate lug I'll) (see Fig. 8) provided on the sideof the segment gear I1 in such manner that when the bar is moved to theleft-hand extreme position shown, it willfextend into the path ofmovement of the lug 'I'Ib and will thereby prevent rotation of thesegment gear by the hand throw lever, but that when the bar is moved tothe right to a right-hand extreme position, the lug I'Ib will be free toenter a slot 94 provided in the side of the bar 93. The bar 93 isconstantly biased to its right-hand extreme position by means of aspring I3 which abuts at one end against the one end wall of the casing31 and at the other end against a depending bracket 96 secured to thebar 93, but is arranged to be positively moved to a'le'ft-hand extremeposition in opposition to its bias when the 'bar 45 is moved to itsleft-hand extreme position through the medium of a drivin lug '9'lsecured to the upper end of the bar 45 in a position to engage the endof the bar 93 Vertical force components on the bar 93 are resisted byrollers 93a provided in the underside of thebar 93'and by circularshoulders I000. formed on a gear cluster "I00. The shoulders" Ill0a "aredis-1 posed above the upper ends of the bracket 95 at the opposite sidesof the -bar '93, and when' the bar 93 is moved these shoulders rollalong' the upper ends of the bracket; The'gear cluster I00 comprises'partoi a time release'mechan ism which I shall now describe forcontrolling the movement of the bar 93*towa-rd its right-hand extremeposition in response to :its bias when the bar 45 is moved to itsright-hand extreme position.

The time release mechanism as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is driven by a rackbar 99 secured to the upper side of the bar 93 within the housing 31,and. meshing with a pinion I002) comprising part of the previouslyreferred to gear cluster I00. This gear cluster also includes a ratchetpinion I000, and is journaled at its ends in suitable bosses provided inthe side walls of the casing 3?. The ratchet pinion 1000 is operativelyconnected through a ratchet pawl 08'with a spur 'gear l [H in suchmanner that rotation of the. gear cluster by movement of the bar 93toward the right will cause corresponding rotation of the gear IOI, butthat rotation of the cluster in the opposite direction will cause theratchet pawl to slip around the ratchet pinion without causing rotationof the spur gear. The spur gear I0I is journaled on the hub of the gearcluster between the ratchet pinion and the contiguous side wall of thecasing 31 and meshes with a pinion gear 102 fixed to a jackshaft I03journaled at its ends in suitable bearings formed in the side walls ofthe casing 31. Also fixed to the jackshait is an escapement wheel I05which cooperates with an escapement pawl I06a secured to one side of aninertia member I05 'journ'aled on a stub shaft I 01, the parts being soproportioned that throwing mechanisms which are used to operate twoswitches at the opposite ends of a crossover between two tracks. Thisresult may readilybe accomplished when at least "one of the mech-'anisms is provided with a slow release switch lock embodying myinvention, by interconnecting the mechanisms for the two switches a inthe manner shown in Fig. '10. Referring to Fig. 10 as hereillustrated,-a crossover is provided with two switchesC and D, thecondition of operation being such that it is desired to cause switch 0to be operated a predetermined time interval before switch D. Toaccomplish this 'result, the switch D is operated by a mechanism whichmay be'identical to either one of the previously described mechanismsexcept for the fact that the auxiliary lever 68 has been replaced by acrank IIO as shown in Fig. 13. This crank is connected through a pipeline I II including a one to one ratio crank I I I a with the lockbar'35 of a mechanism BI which is similar to that described in thepreviously referred to Bone 'et al. Patent No. 2,184,870. Since thislatter mechanism is described in detail in the Bone et al. patent, andsince it is similar to either one of the mechanisms previously describedexcept for the fact that the slow release lock mechanism has beenomitted and that the cam dog 46 which operates the cir cuit controller,instead of beingsecured to a sec-L ond bar is secured to the lock bar35, it is believed to be unnecessary to describe this mechanism indetail herein.

Normally the switches C and D are set to permit traffic to move alongthe straight tracks past the switches. When it is desired to cause atrain to move over the crossover from one track to the other, the switchoperating mechanism BI associated with switch C is first operated. Thisrotates the crank I III of the mechanism B through the medium of thepipe line I l I connected to the lock bar 35 of the switch operatingmechanism BI, and thereby operates the circuit controller of the switchoperating mechanism B, thus causing the time release mechanism of thislatter switch operating mechanism to be actuated. When the timeinterval'has expired'the hand lever 24 of the switch operating mechanismB becomes unlocked, and the switchman may then operate this mechanism toreverse the switch D.

In Fig. 11, the switch D of a crossover is operated by a mechanism whichmay be identical to either one of the mechanisms described herein, whileswitch C is operated by a mechanism which is similar to that foroperating switch C in Fig. 10 except that the lock bar 35 is notconnected to the motion plate of the mechanism, but is connected througha'pipe line III with the lock bar 35 of the mechanism associated withswitch D. To reverse the switches with this arrangementit is necessaryfirst to operate the mechanism B associated with switch D. Thisoperation cannot be'effected until a time interval has elapsed by virtueof the associated time release mechanism, and when it is effected itoperates the lock bar of the mechanism BI associated with switch Cthrough the medium of the pipe line III to unlock this latter switch.When this latter switch is unlocked, it can then be reversed by itsassociated mechanism B I.

In Fig. 12, the switches C and D are each provided with operatingmechanisms B similar to either one of the mechanisms describedhereinbefore except for the fact that the auxiliarylevers of both ofthese mechanisms have been r eplaced by cranks I'III connected by pipelines I I2 and H3 respectively to the lever of a lever stand -I-I4located intermediate the two mechanisms. With this arrangement the leverof the stand H4 must be operated a predetermined time interval beforeeither mechanism can to reverse the associated switch.

'Referring now to Figs. 14 and 15, I have here shown a simplified formof my invention in which the functions performed by the mechanical timerelease mechanism in the preceding viewsare performed by a time elementrelay T controlled by the circuit controller and arranged to con trol,an electric lock EL applied to the hand throw lever 24. As here shown,the bar I0 which operates the circuit controller C is arranged to V bereciprocated between'its two extreme positions by the auxiliary.lever68, shaft E'Lgear 66 and rack bar 99, but since the mechanicaltime release mechanism is not necessary these parts are shown locatedin' a smaller auxiliary housing H5 which takes the place of the housing31. The bar 10, however, is interlocked with the bar 35 by means of alug IIB whichis secured to bar 10, and which cooperates with a lug II'Isecured to bar 35 in such manner that the bar I0 cannot be moved to itsleft-hand extreme position when the switch is unlocked.

Operation of the hand throw lever away from its normal position exceptwhen the auxiliary leveris moved to its reverse position to operate thecircuit controller is prevented by a blocking piece I20 which isattached to theupp'er' side of the bar and which cooperates with the lugI1a of segment gear I! in such manner that rotation of this gear isprevented except when be operated the bar III is moved to its right-handextreme position.

July 17', 1934, for'Electrical relays. The relay T is connected with'abattery E through a contact of'the circuit controller Cfand it will beseen therefore that this relay will become energized as soon as thecircuit controller C is operated by operation of the auxiliary lever 68.

' The electric lock EL may be of any suitable type which will preventoperation of the hand throw lever 24 except when the lock is energized.A's here shown, it is similar to the Electric switch lock shown anddescribed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 914,447, grantedMarch 9, 1909, to Walter P. Neubert, and includes a latch I26 whichprojects into the path of movement of the lever 24, and which isprevented from being moved out .of th path of movement of the leverexcept when the lock is energized. The lock' is arranged to be energizedover a circuit which includes a battery F and which becomes closedwhenever contact 8 of relay T becomes closed. For moving the latch outof the path of movement of the lever a foot pedal I2I' is provided.

-With the form of the invention shown in Figs. 14 and 15 when it isdesired to reverse the switch theauxiliary lever 68 is first operated tooperate'the'circuit controller C. "The'operation of this circuitcontroller completes the circuit for time element relay T, and after thetime interval for which this relay is set has elapsed contact II8becomes closed and energizes the electric lock EL. Thispermits'operation of the latch I26' by the associated foot pedal. Theoperation of the latch unlocks the hand throw lever 2-4 which can thenbe reversed in the usual manner.

Itshould be pointed out that with the 'mechanism constructed as shown inFigs. 14 and 15 the blocking piece I20 acts as a mechanical check toinsure that the hand lever cannot be operated without first operatingthe circuit controller C to place the signals at stop in the event theelectric lock should become improperly energized for some reason suchfor example as a short circuit.

Although I have herein shown and described only three forms of slowrelease locks for railway switches embodying my invention, it isunderstood' that various changes and modifications may be made thereinwithin the scope of the appended claims without departing from thespirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim is: v

1. In combination, a railway switch, manually operable means foroperating said switch between its two extreme positions and for lockingit in one extreme position, a circuit controller responsive to theposition of said switch, other means for operating said circuitcontroller, means for locking said manually operable means in theposition in which said switch is locked, and mechanism-set intooperation by the operation of said other means for unlocking saidmanually operable means at the expiration of a timed interval.

2. In combination, a railway switch, manually operable means foroperating said switch between its two extreme positions and for lookingit in one extreme position, a circuit controller responsive to theposition of said switch, other means for operating said circuitcontroller, and means for preventing operation of said manually operablemeans away from the position in which said switch is locked except whensaid circuitcontroller is actuated by said other means and apredetermined time interval has elapsed thereafter.

3. In combination, a railway switch, means including a hand throw leverfor operating said switch between its two extreme positions and forlooking it in one extreme position, a circuit controller responsive tothe position of said switch, an auxiliary lever, means controlled bysaid auxiliary lever for operating said circuit controller, and meanscontrolled by said auxiliary lever for at times preventing operation ofsaid hand throw lever.

4. In combination, a railway switch, means including a hand throw leverfor operating said switch between its two extreme positions and forlooking it in one extreme position, a circuit controller responsive tothe position of said switch, an auxiliary lever, means controlled bysaid auxiliary lever for operating said circuit controller, and meanscontrolled by said auxiliary lever for at times preventing operation ofsaid hand throw lever away from the position in which said switch islocked.

5. In combination, a railway switch, means including a hand throw leverfor operating said switch between its two extreme positions and forlocking it in one extreme position, a circuit controller responsive tothe position of said switch, an auxiliary lever, means controlled bysaid auxiliary lever for operating said circuit controller,

and means controlled by said auxiliary lever for at times preventingoperation of said hand throw lever away from the position in which saidswitch is locked for a timed interval after said auxiliary lever isoperated to operate said circuit controller.

6. In combination, a railway switch, means including a hand throw leverfor operating said switch between its two extreme positions and forlocking it in one extreme position, a circuit controller responsive tothe position of said switch, an auxiliary lever, means controlled bysaid auxiliary lever for operating said circuit controller, and meansfor preventing operation of said hand throw lever away from the positionin which said switch is locked except when said auxiliary lever isoperated and a predetermined time interval has thereafter elapsed.

7. In combination, a railway switch, means including a hand throw leverfor operating said switch between its two extreme positions, meansoperated by said hand throw lever for locking said switch in one extremeposition, a circuit controller responsive to the position of saidswitch, an auxiliary lever, means controlled by said auxiliary lever foroperating said circuit controller, mechanical time release mechanismcontrolled by said auxiliary lever, and means for locking said handlever controlled by said time release mechanism.

8. In combination, a railway switch, a lock bar cooperating with meansfor locking said switch in one extreme position, manually operable meansincluding a segment gear for actuating said lock bar and for moving saidswitch between its two extreme-positions, a circuit controllerresponsive to the'position of said switch, means including a'seo'on'dbar movable between two extreme positions for manually operating saidcircuit controller, a third bar movable between extreme positions, meanson said segment gear cooperating with said third bar to preventoperation of said manually operable means when 'said third bar occupiesits one extreme position, means operatively connecting said second andthird bars in such manner that said third bar will be positively movedto its one extreme position when said second bar is moved to its oneextreme position and will be yieldably urged to its other extremeposition when said second bar is moved to its other extreme position,and time release mechanism connected with said third bar for controllingits rate of movement from its one to its other extreme position.

9. In combination, a railway switch, means including a segment gearoperated by a hand throw lever for moving said switch between its twoextreme positions and for looking it in one extreme position, a firstbar manually operable between two extreme positions, a circuitcontroller responsive both to the position of said switch and to theposition of said first bar, a second bar, means for positively movingsaid second bar to its one extreme position when said first bar is movedto its one extreme position and for biasing said second bar to its otherextreme position when said first bar is moved to its other extremeposition, means on said segment gear cooperating with said second barfor preventing said hand throw lever from being operated when saidsecond bar occupies its one extreme position, and means for retardingmovement of said second bar by said biasing means.

10. In combination, a railway switch, means including a segment gearoperated by a hand throw lever for moving said switch between its twoextreme positions and for looking it in one extreme position, a firstbar provided in one end with rack teeth, a segment gear rotatablebetween two extreme positions and arranged to mesh with the rack teethon said first bar in an intermediate part of its stroke to move saidfirst bar between its two extreme positions, an auxiliary leverconnected with said segment gear for rotating it between its two extremepositions, a second bar, means for positively moving said second bar toits one extreme osition when said first bar is moved to its one extremeposition and for biasing said second bar to its other extreme positionwhen said first bar is moved to its other extreme position, means onsaid segment gear cooperating with said second bar for preventing saidhand throw lever from being operated when said second bar occupies itsone extreme position, and means for retarding movement of said secondbar by said biasing means.

11. In combination, a railway switch, means including a segment gearoperated by a hand throw lever for moving said switch between its twoextreme positions and for locking it in one extreme position, a firstbar, two spaced rollers secured to said first bar, an auxiliary lever, acam segment rotatable between two extreme positions by means of saidauxiliary lever and cooperating with said rollers to reciprocate saidfirst bar between its two extreme positions, a second bar, means forpositively moving said second bar to its one extreme position when saidfirst bar is moved to its one extreme position and for biasing saidsecond bar to its other extreme troller responsive to the position ofsaid switch,

manually operable means for actuating said circuit controller, anelectric time measuring means set into'operation by operation of saidcircuit controller, anvelectric lock efiective when deenergized toprevent operation. of said hand throw lever, and means controlled bysaid time measuring means for controlling the energization of said look.I

, KENNETH J. J. MCGOWAN.

